Toyota turns to Sony for help with “intelligent” new vehicle

August 27th, 2007 | Category: Transporation, Robots

While it doesn’t look like there will be AIBOs scampering around Toyota offices anytime soon, it appears that the company has in fact turned to Sony for some of their robotics-related expertise. According to the AP, the two companies will be working together to develop an “innovative, intelligent, single-seat vehicle” as part of a deal that stems from Toyota’s acquisition of various Sony technology and patents earlier that year. Under the new partnership, seven Sony researchers have started to work temporarily in Toyota’s robot research unit,

helping Toyota assemble sense of the technology. While details on the vehicle itself are light, as the AP points out, Toyota’s i-swing “personal mobility vehicle” does seem to meet the general description. In related news, Toyota additionally officially unveiled its TPR-Robina showroom guide robot nowadays, which we’re guessing has already given those visiting Sony researchers a suitably creepy welcoming.

Original post by Donald Melanson